WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-All-State Music Festival Kicks Off
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Essex Junction, Vermont - May 6, 2009
The 82nd annual Vermont All-State Music Festival kicks off Wednesday night in Essex Junction. Kids will spend four days performing in orchestral, choral, jazz, and band groups.
And as entertaining as the music-- the uniforms!
Enosburgh Falls is holding onto the traditional look of marching bands. They're meant to stick out.
Marty Cseh, Enosburgh Junior: They'll remember us!
Reporter Jack Thurston: Because of the colors, you mean?
Cseh: Yeah, the colors, and the hats!
Asked if it's hard to work with the hats and all the gear on, Winooski eighth-grader Moriah Leary replied, "It's not hard to work with, but it's really hot. And it gets tiring and it's heavy."
Jack Thurston: So good thing it's not too warm out tonight.
Leary: Yeah!
But some schools-- like Hazen Union-- have gone to just matching T-shirts. They're content to stick out because of their sound... and their sousaphone.
Jonathan Besett, Hazen Union H.S. Senior: It's really an essential part of a marching band so it's nice to have one.
Jack Thurston: Well since you don't see the sousaphone too often, a parade like this is a nice opportunity to spread the message of the sousaphone.
Besett: That's true. And oftentimes, the other bands? They'll have a sousaphone player. So it's like, 'hey you're the guy that school! The other guy who plays the sousaphone!
That's what this event is really all about-- making friends and networking school to school through music.
The All-State Music Festival continues through Saturday night at the Essex High School. Click here for more information.
Jack Thurston - WCAX News
